Identification Chestnut Breasted
Mannikin
Male:
solid brownish finch with black face, grey crown and
heavy grey bill. Chestnut breast divided from white
abdomen by heavy black bar. Golden-brown rump and tail.
Female: paler. Size 10-11.5 cm. Juv. dark bill;
olive-brown above, buff below.
Voice Chestnut Breasted
Mannikin
Call:
Bell like 'teet' or 'tit' in contact. Song: Long (12
seconds) toneless phrase of four spaced segments: clicks,
harsh notes in two series, whistles at end.
Habitat Chestnut Breasted
Mannikin
Reed
beds, rank grass. During the late Autumn and Winter
congregates in large flocks. Food: Seeds of grasses.
Distribution
Chestnut Breasted Mannikin
Tropical
northern Australia and eastern Australia (mainly coastal)
to the Sydney district.
Nest Chestnut Breasted
Mannikin
Bulky,
oval, with a side entrance, composed of dried grasses
interwoven, and lined with finer grasses; placed in a low
bush, in a tuft of tall grass, or among a growth of
weeds.
Breeding Chestnut Breasted
Mannikin
Breeding
Season: September to April. Eggs: Four to eight; white.
Incubation 14 days, by both sexes. Young fledge in about
21days.
Breeders
Price Guide (Aviary bred pairs) Chestnut Breasted
Mannikin
$20
to $30
Aviary
Licence Requirements Chestnut Breasted Mannikin
| ACT |
NSW |
NT |
Qld |
SA |
Tas |
Vic |
WA |
| No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
? |
No |
Yes |
Aviary Notes Chestnut
Breasted Mannikin
They are best kept in an aviary with an open flight. They
will use a variety of artificial nests. Pair bonding is
strong and is hard to bring in a new mate. They are a
hardy bird and will not mix well in an aviary of small
seed eaters because they have a tendency to be aggressive
a interfere with other birds They can be kept as a pair
or as a colony.
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